Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: No special preparation required
- Turnaround: 3-5 business days (may take longer based on weather, holidays, or lab delays)
What's Included
This test measures allergen-specific IgE antibodies to pear (F094-IgE Pear) in a blood sample. The immune system produces IgE antibodies in response to specific allergens, and measuring pear-specific IgE can help identify sensitization to this fruit. This test evaluates pear only and does not measure IgE to any other food, fruit, or allergen. The result reflects your immune system's antibody response to pear specifically, not to related fruits or other substances.
Benefits
- Measures IgE antibodies specific to pear allergen
- Provides objective, lab-based antibody data
- Requires only a standard blood draw
- Results available in a few business days
- Focused test for a single, specific food allergen
- Can support a broader conversation with your healthcare provider
Who Is This Test For?
- People who have experienced symptoms after eating pears
- Individuals with mouth or throat tingling, itching, or swelling after pear consumption
- People who have had skin reactions, such as hives or itching, after eating pears
- Individuals experiencing digestive symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) after pear exposure
- People working with a healthcare provider to investigate a possible pear allergy
- Individuals who want objective antibody data to discuss with their provider
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What does this test measure, and how is it different from other food allergy tests?
This test measures allergen-specific IgE antibodies to pear only, using a blood sample. Unlike broader food allergy panels that screen multiple foods at once, this is a single-allergen test focused exclusively on pear, so it does not provide information about IgE levels for any other food or allergen.
2. Who should consider this test, and when?
Anyone who has noticed symptoms, such as mouth itching, throat swelling, hives, or digestive upset, after eating pears may find this test relevant. It can also be useful for people working with a healthcare provider to investigate whether pears are contributing to a pattern of symptoms.
3. Do I need to fast or prepare for this test?
No special preparation, including fasting, is required before this blood draw. You can arrive at the lab and complete the test without adjusting your diet or routine beforehand.
4. How long will it take to get my results?
Results are typically available in 3-5 business days after your sample is collected. Turnaround may take longer depending on weather, holidays, or other lab delays.
5. How should I interpret my results, and what if they are abnormal?
Interpreting an IgE result depends on your symptom history, overall clinical picture, and the specific value reported, so a single result should not be read in isolation. A positive result indicates sensitization to pear but does not by itself confirm a clinical allergy or predict how severe a reaction might be, and a negative result does not guarantee that pear can be consumed without any risk. If your results fall outside the expected range, review them with a qualified healthcare provider, who can help place the finding in the context of your history and determine whether further evaluation is appropriate.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
Pre-test preparation
No special preparation is required for this test.
Cross-Reactivity
Cross-reactivity may occur when the immune system recognizes similar proteins in other foods or pollens, even though those items are not part of this laboratory test. This test measures only pear-specific IgE and does not test for any of the additional pollens or foods described below. The examples that follow are not exhaustive, and they represent possible additional considerations rather than confirmed allergies. Having IgE sensitization to pear does not mean a person will necessarily react to any of the items listed here. Depending on your symptoms, history, or previous reactions, discussing related allergen evaluation with your healthcare provider may be worth considering.
- Birch pollen: Pear contains proteins similar to Bet v 1, the major birch pollen allergen, and cross-reactivity with birch pollen has been reported in people with pollen-food allergy syndrome.
- Alder pollen: Alder pollen has also been associated with cross-reactive oral symptoms to pear in some individuals with seasonal pollen allergy.
- Other Rosaceae fruits (apple, peach, cherry, plum, apricot): These fruits share PR-10 proteins with pear and birch pollen, and some people with pear sensitization may also show cross-reactive responses to them.
- Hazelnut: Hazelnut has been noted alongside pear and other birch-associated foods in pollen-food allergy syndrome reports, though clinical reactions vary by individual.
These relationships are most often associated with pollen-food allergy syndrome (oral allergy syndrome), where symptoms are typically limited to the mouth and throat and may lessen when the food is cooked. Related allergen testing may be worth discussing with your healthcare provider if you have symptoms or a history that suggests broader pollen-food cross-reactivity.
